Missouri State University’s Opera Theatre achieved an impressive milestone, qualifying for the 2025 Robert Hanson National Collegiate Opera Scenes Competition in January.

Three sophomore standouts represented the university during the competition. Jb Love (music performance), Ryan McIntosh (music education) and Veronika Yerina (double major vocal performance and biology) are all members of MSU’s “Opera Bears” club.

MSU Opera director Dr. Ann Marie Daehn and Dr. Chris Thompson, both professors in the Department of Music, oversaw the students’ performances.

“This is a huge accomplishment for our students and speaks to their talent, dedication and hard work,” Daehn said.

Sending three sophomores was a deliberate choice, Daehn added. Most schools tend to send more experienced seniors or returning finalists.

“We focus on giving opportunities to all performers, even younger students,” she said. “This is about providing every one of our students the chance to grow.”

The National Opera Association (NOA) hosted the event at its national conference in Savannah, Georgia. The competition aims to recognize and promote artistic excellence in opera performance in college and university programs.

Journey to the nationals

Daehn described the road to the nationals as both competitive and demanding. The NOA received 29 entries from universities and conservatories across the country, but only four undergraduate scenes appeared in the finals, she explained.

MSU Opera submitted a video for consideration and received its invitation to compete in November.

Upon learning they had been accepted, the trio engaged in rigorous rehearsals over the holiday break and at the start of the spring semester.

At the same time, industry professionals, including colleagues from Ozark Lyric Opera, assisted them by providing feedback before the team left for the competition.

At the competition, the students performed a trio and duet from Hungarian composer Emmerich Kálmán’s “Die Csárdásfürstin” in German. Daehn created the rousing staging and choreography, while Thompson coached the language and music.

For the students, the competition was an eye-opening journey.

“The experience elevated each of us as musicians,” McIntosh said. “Not only were we challenged to learn and memorize complex music in a short amount of time, but we also learned how to stage it in less than a week.”

“We were all held to a professional standard, and it resulted in a beautiful performance on the Savannah stage,” he added.

Immersive career experience

Equally important, the competition immersed the students in a professional environment where they met agents, performers and arts administrators. MSU Opera performed before a distinguished audience, including directors, composers and university representatives from across the country.

Yerina said she cherished the chance to share the stage with close friends under the guidance of beloved mentors.

“The experience was rich with many opportunities to connect with the opera world and grow as a young singer,” Yerina said. “It gave much-needed insight into a performance career and the next steps in my training.”

For Love, the conference was “a wonderful opportunity to meet, discuss with and learn from people who have various levels of experience within this artistic field.”

“I had an amazing time preparing and presenting this piece to them,” Love said.

Daehn noted that while she and Thompson continuously push their students to meet industry standards, being part of the conference and competition made those standards tangible.

“When they step into this world, they see for themselves what we’ve been telling them about performance and professionalism,” she said.

A platform for recognition

While winning was a goal, Daehn emphasized student recruitment opportunities.

“I want to see business cards flying,” she said, adding that students often receive invitations to graduate programs and professional engagements because of their performances.

She also noted MSU Opera’s growing reputation, with directors and professionals commending its preparedness, artistry and professionalism.

“We have a fantastic national reputation. Colleagues are asking to come do master classes and recruit our students for their programs.”

Local productions emphasize variety of experiences

Back on campus, MSU Opera stages three productions each academic year to ensure students receive a broad range of experiences.

“Beyond musical variety, students are exposed to diverse movement styles, from ballet and modern dance to square dancing and clogging,” Daehn said.

Recently they collaborated with Ozark Lyric Opera for a performance of Aaron Copland’s “The Tender Land,” a modern English-language opera. Their outreach program, “Sid, the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing,” brought performances to 12 elementary schools, blending music with educational engagement.

MSU Opera also had the opportunity in 2024 to workshop “Notes on Viardot,” a new opera by composer Michael Chang, marking its debut performance.

New performances in April

For Spring 2025, MSU Opera will present two Baroque operas: Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” a Greek tragedy, and a condensed version of George Handel’s “Alcina,” performed in Italian.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. April 4 and 1:30 p.m. April 6 in the C. Minor Recital Hall.

Admission is $5 cash or card at the door. Student admission is free with BearPass ID.

Explore MSU Opera

Photo credits: Robert Breault.

News edited by the Reynolds College Communications Team.